As Brandon says, you don't need to add acid (unles you spilled some). If
you do need acid try any place that sells batteries - there is usually too
much in the box for a car battery.
When a battery's electrolyte is low it is the water portion which is
missing - it either electorlyzed or simply evaporated. The process of
charge / discharge involves the change: Pb + PbO2 + 2H2SO4 =>discharge=>
2PbSO4 + 2H2O. Charging drives the equation to the left. Unfortunately the
process isn't perfect & some of the lead ends up in the bottom of the
battery (probably as lead hydroxide).
I have heard that in the bad old days used car dealers would add a teaspoon
of white vinegar to each cell in the battery to revive a dead battery until
the car could be sold. I've never tried this & don't know if it would work,
but if your battery dies in the middle of nowhere vinegar might be worth a
try. Lead acetate IS water soluble.
Bill
<snip>
>> George C. Paramithas wrote:
>>
>> > Next question: Has anyone tried to recharge
>> > i.e. add more electrolyte to a so called bad battery? And where can one
get just the electrolyte? I've already removed the....permanent caps.
>>
Brandon wrote:
>>
>> You can't. Or rather, you shouldn't.
